1st Impressions of Teams at Iowa PD Sizzle

CORALVILLE, Iowa - Last week, the Iowa Prep Dig Sizzle brought together high school teams from around the state (and a few from Wisconsin) for two days of preseason scrimmages. They were beginning their journey to get back here to Xtream Arena for the state tournament.

There's a long way to go before that's determined, however. First impressions are important, but they're not everything. Teams that start the campaign well aren't guaranteed anything in the end and slow starters can come together for a run.

It was great seeing the student-athletes go at it in the Sizzle. It was competitive. There were oos and awes from the crowd when Davenport Assumption's Ellah Derrer Ellah Derrer 6'4" | MB Davenport Assumption | 2026 State #155 Nation IA blocked Chloe Meester Chloe Meester OH Mount Vernon | 2025 State #33 Nation IA from Mount Vernon. The same reaction came when Liberty's Edie Miller Edie Miller 5'7" | DS/L Iowa City Liberty | 2027 State IA dug a Meester rocket directed her way.

Meester is the best player in the state. If you do something well against her, you should smile and feel good about it.

For the record, Meester was the top performer here from what I saw. I keep writing it because it's true - she's getting better as an all-around player. She showed that her being on the court for six rotations is going to be a problem for opponents.

It was impossible see every team play for an extended period with the continuous action. I did get to see a good chuck of the group enough to get a decent first impression.

Pleasant Valley

PV has reached the state tournament five years in a row with a championship raised in the 2021 season. The Spartans looked every bit the part of a contender again this fall.

The keys will be a combination of the star power and the depth. Like Meester, Isabelle Kremer Isabelle Kremer 6'3" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2026 State #84 Nation IA is a powerful pin expanding her game to play six rotations as a prep. It's going well if this week was any indication.

Stella Smith Stella Smith 6'1" | MB Pleasant Valley | 2025 State IA , a UMKC commit, also has grown her game in the front row. She's best in the middle, but brings a mean swing on the right side as well and defends the net. Backup middle Gabriella Ragins Gabriella Ragins 5'11" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2025 State IA would start on most teams in the state.

There's depth at setter with Lauren Brohm and Carsyn Kelley Carsyn Kelley 5'11" | S/RS Assumption | 2026 State IA , and Mazie Sweers Mazie Sweers 6'0" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2027 State IA should become a household name around the state, if she isn't already. Expect her to top the 205 kills she had as a freshman in '23.

Iowa City Liberty

The Lightning took on Pleasant Valley in one of the better Sizzle matches. The Spartans won, 2-1, with both coaches working on developing rotations and seeing what they had in inexperienced players.

Liberty took its lumps last season after graduating a large swath of talent from its '22 state championship team. The group grew as the season went on, however, and looked like a team fully capable of making it back here in a few months.

Senior Asta Hildebrand Asta Hildebrand S Iowa City Liberty | 2025 State IA , a St. Cloud State commitment, showed again during this event that she's one of the top six-rotation players in the state. She set, hit, dug, blocked and served effectively. Hadley Miller Hadley Miller 5'8" | S/DS/L Iowa City Liberty | 2027 State IA 's precise setting allowed her freedom to contribute elsewhere.

Edie Miller Edie Miller 5'7" | DS/L Iowa City Liberty | 2027 State IA has improved in the back row since last season, when she was an all-stater as a freshman. Lucy Massen and Ellie Wilson Ellie Wilson 5'9" | OH/DS/L Iowa City Liberty | 2027 State IA shined last season and looked ready for more in '24 with their play here.

Sydney Van Heukelom Sydney Van Heukelom 6'0" | MB Iowa City Liberty | 2027 State IA might be the most improved player on the team. The sophomore has a chance for marked improvement this season, which could be a key for the Lightning.

Mount Vernon

The Mustangs featured two of the better players in this event with Meester and Sydney Maue Sydney Maue RS Mount Vernon | 2025 State IA , a right-side pin headed to Arkansas. They are complemented nicely by one of the state's top setters in senior Sydney Huber Sydney Huber S Mount Vernon | 2025 State IA .

How Mount Vernon does in its pursuit of the state championship could come down to how well the other student-athletes step up. They're capable.

Paige Schurbon Paige Schurbon MB Mount Vernon | 2025 State IA has already secured her place on every opponents' scouting report with 229 kills last season. Caliana Whitaker has improved since '23, looking much more comfortable on the court as a junior, and the same compliment can be given to sophomore Sophia Meester Sophia Meester OH Mount Vernon | 2027 State IA . Senior Jaden Rolland Jaden Rolland DS/L State IA , who led the team in digs a year ago, did not compete at the Sizzle.

Senior Eryn Jackson held down the back row this week with help from Mavrik Schweer Mavrik Schweer 5'3" | DS/L Mount Vernon | 2027 State IA , a sophomore. Class 3A will be challenging, and the Mustangs will need their group to grow throughout the campaign.

Davenport Assumption

Mount Vernon dispatched of a main competitor in Assumption during the second day of the Sizzle. The Knights played toe-to-toe with the Mustangs in the first set and appeared capable of reaching the state tournament for a rematch.

Assumption is powered by junior middle Ellah Derrer Ellah Derrer 6'4" | MB Davenport Assumption | 2026 State #155 Nation IA and senior setter Ellie Schubert Ellie Schubert 5'9" | S Davenport Assumption | 2025 State IA , two of the best at their respective positions who performed like it here. Seniors Alyssa O’Neal Alyssa O’Neal 5'11" | OH Davenport Assumption | 2025 State IA , Nora Remrey Nora Remrey 5'7" | DS/L Assumption | 2025 State IA and Elizabeth Snyder Elizabeth Snyder OH IA along with juniors Erin Robbins and Kathryn Snyder help make a supporting cast that confirmed this week that the Knights will not be fun to face in '24.

Clear Creek Amana

The Clippers are replacing a lot of key performers from teams that compiled an 80-12 record the last two seasons with two of the five state tournament appearances in program history. The veterans and newcomers will have their work cut out for them without the likes of Bliss Beck and Meg Berkland, but coach Jackie Clubb told me here last week that she likes her roster.

I could see why. Junior Averie Lower Averie Lower 5'11" | OH Clear Creek Amana | 2026 State IA , who has started 92 matches, continued swinging it well during the Sizzle, showing she's solid for six rotations. She stayed on the court with classmate Emily Henderson Emily Henderson 5'8" | S/RS Clear Creek Amana | 2026 State IA , who has started 89 matches at setter. The latter has continually improved throughout her career and really took a step forward this club season in becoming a more dangerous all-around performer.

Another junior, middle Sariah Sherman Sariah Sherman 5'11" | OH Clear Creek Amana | 2026 State IA , appeared in 47 matches in '23 and looked here like someone embracing a larger role. Clubb said she expected help from middle Bailey Simpson Bailey Simpson 6'1" | MB/RS Clear Creek-Amana | 2027 State IA this season, and the sophomore was up to the task in the Sizzle.

Mid-Prairie

I really, really liked what I saw from the Golden Hawks. This event served them very well as they faced some of the top schools in their class (3A) along with tough larger programs.

Dakota Mitchell Dakota Mitchell 5'3" | DS/L Mid Prairie | 2025 State IA , a North Texas commit, shined as brightly as anybody at the Sizzle. She's been one of the state's better liberos for awhile but showed here her all-around game makes her dangerous whenever she touches the ball.

Jovi Evans Jovi Evans 5'6" | DS/L Mid Prairie | 2026 State IA and Harper Pacha Harper Pacha 5'11" | OH Mid-Prairie | 2026 State IA joined Mitchell as all-district performers as sophomore last season. They and Callie Huber Callie Huber MB Mid Prairie | 2025 State IA moved their games forward since then, as we saw here. Senior Lanee Duwa stood out in the back row, Avery Helmuth Avery Helmuth S Mid Prairie | 2026 State IA showed a varied skill set that included setting and digging, and Brylee Gearhart adds depth in the middle.